Killer Angels #3

I´m very taken with 2 of the characters from this book: Chamberlain and Longstreet.
Chamberlain, being a college professor with no military experience, and feeling responsible to keep his younger brother safe. He is portrayed as a very moral man, not seeing himself as a prejudicial, yet unable to find any any glowing attributes for the ¨black man¨ that is found just before Day 1.
This subject could lead to a discussion, debate, followed by a persuasive essay. Many kids don´t realize that they may or may not have prejudices.
My other favorite character, Longstreet, is a very lonely man. He is not only grieving for the loss of his family, but reveres Lee as a father, and notices his frailty. Kilrain and Lee both give Longstreet ¨fatherly¨ feedback. Their well being is an extra burden for him during the battles both before and after. I like how Longstreet knows himself fairly well. For instance: Generally, he likes to be by himself, but this particular day he realizes that he is depressed and really needs to shake this mood. He greets Fremantle and rides with him for time, letting Fremantle just ramble on about frivolous conversation! He realizes his state of mind again the night after the battle at Little Round Tree. He rides throughout the Rebel camps checking on the troops and Armstead invites him over to the camp fire for singing, storytelling and some drink. He refuses several times out of his responsibility to the men; keeping sharp, not letting the drink cloud his decisions.
Longstreet also struggles with expressing himself as he did when talking to Fremantle about Lee. Fremantle describes Lee as devious, and Longstreet goes off on a tangent defending him. He says, ¨There isn´t a devious bone in Lee´s body! After his rather lengthy tyrade, he realizes that he has said too much. He feels disloyal and foolish.
These are just a few instances of humanity that is portrayed in these two characters.
I think I would use these examples as journal prompts, and have the students examine some of the things they have done and said, and how might they feel after expressing those feelings.